What is a Skip Licence and do I Need One?

Skips are an ideal waste management solution when it comes to commercial and domestic projects alike. Camiers have a range of skips in various sizes to cater for a variety of different construction or renovation projects. However, if you’re planning on keeping your skip on the road, a permit will be needed first.

In this article, we’ll be explaining what skip licences are, why you need one and what happens if you fail to acquire it.

Why do I need a skip licence?

Skip licences (or skip permits) are required by law should you wish to place your skip (or skip bag) on a public highway/road. Skip licences were introduced to control the amount of skips that were being placed on public roads, causing considerable disruption. 

Skips take up a significant amount of space, limit space to park and can affect traffic flow. Therefore, not having a skip licence, if it’s being placed on a public road, is unlawful. If your skip is found to be unlicensed, it can be taken away at any time and you’ll face a hefty fine. 

How can I get a skip licence?

Many skip hire companies will apply for a permit on your behalf. The charges will then be added to the overall cost of your skip, and a small admin charge may be included also, although this depends entirely on the skip hire company you have chosen.

Some councils may require that the person paying for the skip should also order their own permit directly from the local council. Failure to acquire a skip permit could lead to a fine.

A fine could be charged to either your skip company, or to yourself. If the council requires you to order it directly from them, and you have told your skip hire company that the permit had been acquired prior to skip delivery, then the skip hire company can push the fine onto you instead.

If you’d like to learn more, then contact your local council and the skip hire company you plan to use. They should be more than happy to answer any questions you have, as this will ensure a smooth, pleasant experience when ordering and utilising your skip. 

How much does it cost?

The cost of a skip licence can vary considerably depending on where you live. Buckinghamshire County Council charge £105 for a standard skip licence and £36 to renew it. Whereas Oxfordshire County Council charge £65 for a standard skip licence and a further £65 to renew it (January 2020).

As previously mentioned, some skip hire companies will arrange this for you, although the cost of it will be added to the overall cost of your skip, together with a potential admin fee. Ask about this when ordering your skip so you aren’t landed with an invoice which was larger than you expected.

How long does it take to get a licence?

The time in which it takes to acquire a skip permit can vary depending on the council. If your situation is particularly time sensitive, then this should be planned for in advance. On average, it takes a few days for an application to be processed, so allow enough time for this before ordering a skip and starting your project. To guarantee a permit in time, apply for one (approximately) a week before your skip is due to arrive.

What happens if a skip is on the road without a permit?

Enforcement officers will regularly check whether or not a skip, which has been placed on the road, is fully licensed. If it’s found to be there unlawfully, a fine will be issued to either the skip hire company, or the person who has bought the skip. If a skip hire company was told by a customer that a skip permit had been sorted, and a fine is issued, the skip hire company can push the fine onto the customer. 

Camiers is a dedicated waste management and skip hire company with over four decades of industry experience. We’re proud to be able to provide our customers with both commercial and domestic skips to help you complete your project with ease. We even aim to recycle at least 90% of the waste we collect, allowing us to do our bit for the environment. For more information about our skip hire service or other waste management solutions we have available, including site clearances, fly-tipping clearances, house and garden clearances or grab hire, get in touch with a member of our team today – we operate throughout Ayslesbury, Tring and the surrounding areas.